“The Lion of Lufodo Takes His Final Bow” — Veteran Actor Olu Jacobs Dies at 84

Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84, bringing to an end a remarkable acting career that spanned theatre, British television, international film and Nollywood.

His death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The family described the celebrated actor as “The Lion of Lufodo” and asked bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy as they mourn.

From British Screens to Becoming a Nollywood Icon

Born on July 11, 1942, Olu Jacobs built a career that stretched across several decades. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before working in British theatre and television and appearing in international films.

He later became one of the most recognisable and respected faces in Nigerian cinema, appearing in more than 100 films and playing a wide range of authoritative and complex characters. His contribution to the Nigerian entertainment industry earned him several honours, including the 2007 Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

A Final Curtain Call for “The Lion of Lufodo”

Beyond acting, Jacobs and his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, co-founded the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to the development and training of performers in Nigeria.

For decades, audiences watched Olu Jacobs command screens with the kind of presence that could make one suspect he had personally written the script. Whether playing a king, chief, father, politician or powerful businessman, the veteran actor had a way of making his characters feel larger than the television itself.

His death also closes a significant chapter in Nigeria’s acting history. The man fondly known as “The Lion of Lufodo” has taken his final bow, but the characters, performances and influence he left behind will continue to live on through generations of Nigerian audiences and actors.

As Nollywood mourns one of its most prominent veterans, OGM News NG joins the industry and his fans in remembering a remarkable career and a lasting contribution to African cinema.